The routes taken a by Africans during their struggle for independence offers a rare tourism opportunity.

This came to light during a one-day workshop organised by the department of national museum and monuments on Friday (January 23).

National Museum Chief curator of ethno-history Ms Winani Kgwatalala told the workshop that the National Museum through the Liberation Heritage Programme aimed to develop the liberation heritage tourism in the country.

Ms Kgwatalala said there were many liberation heritage sites in the country, which could be developed to grow the tourism sector.

She said although Botswana was a landlocked country, it played a significant role in the liberation of African countries, noting that people such as the late president of Mozambique Samora Machel and Nelson Mandela of South Africa had passed through the country during the liberation struggle.

Ms Kgwatalala said during the liberation struggle, the country became a route for freedom fighters from countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique among others.

As such, she said the country had a lot to offer in terms of heritage tourism , which can boost tourism diversification in the country. “Tourism will not only focus on boat cruising and wild viewing, but heritage too,” Ms Kgwatalala added.Further she said some of the heritages left during the struggle could be turned into museums and monuments.

Ms Kgwatalala further said other heritage tourism braches could include sites which were used for punishment or incarceration during the independence struggle.

Another speaker, the deputy director of National Museum Mr Steven Mogotsi said the workshop is part of work under the African Liberation Heritage , which is a multi-country programme initiated by the African Union following a resolution by UNESCO.

Mr Mogotsi said the initiative will promote culture and peace as well as provide for the documentation of history.

The workshop was attended by officials from the government, South Africa’s department of arts and culture and non-governmental organisations and was aimed at bringing on board stakeholders on liberation heritage tourism.

The workshop was also aimed at developing a working relationship and an integral approach towards the development of a liberation heritage route as well as to develop Botswana road to independent and its liberation heritage history.